Physician-Guided Patient Advocacy

What is a patient advocate?

When most people hear the word "advocate," they think of the efforts, even struggles, of individuals who take action to influence government programs and policies. Although many people engage in this type of advocacy, organizing to put pressure on policymakers and officials, advocacy can also take place on a more personal level.

At a core level, advocacy is simply making the case that something is important and needs to be done. When families advocate for themselves or a loved one, that's what they're doing—presenting information and making requests in a focused way to ensure that something important gets done.

Who serves as patient advocates?

An advocate is a “supporter, believer, sponsor, promoter, campaigner, backer, or spokesperson.” It is important to consider all of these aspects when choosing an advocate for yourself or someone in your family. An effective advocate is someone you trust who is willing to act on your behalf as well as someone who can work well with other members of your healthcare team such as your doctors and nurses.

An advocate may be a member of your family, such as a spouse, a child, another family member, or a close friend. Another type of advocate is a professional advocate. Hospitals usually have professionals who play this role, sometimes called ombudsmen. Scott Health Advisory provides Physician Advocates, which you'll learn about below.

Why do I need an advocate?

For many, the healthcare system has become almost unrecognizable. Your doctor spends so little time with you and it feels like you don't have enough time to get your questions answered.

In other cases, none of your doctors talk to each other and no one coordinates your care. They send you for so many tests; do you really need them all? What happens if you are misdiagnosed or there is a mistake in your care? And with some advanced treatments costing hundreds of thousands and not covered by insurance, what should patients do?

Enter professional patient advocates; independent, empathetic, capable navigators and negotiators. People who can help you get the care you want and need while keeping your costs under control.

Advocates help patients navigate the complexities of the healthcare system, from diagnostics to treatment. If you have ever helped a friend or a loved one when they've faced a disease, you have served as an advocate.

Advocacy can include something as simple as helping an aging parent manage the doctor's appointments, or it could involve the pursuit of new diagnostic or treatment technologies for a disease, by communicating with researchers, academics, and clinicians.

Basic advocacy begins at home, but for complex situations, it's a good idea to use a professional advocate with experience navigating the challenges of the healthcare system. While many patient advocates are dedicated professionals or nurses, Scott Health Advisory takes the concept a step further, providing Physician-Guide Patient Advocacy. Each step of your care is carefully reviewed and assessed by a board-certified physician, ensuring that everything from insurance billing to diagnostics to rehabilitation are properly managed.

After a routine operation leaves his mother in a coma, comedic director Steve Burrows starts a video diary that becomes a citizen’s investigation into the future of American health care. Using undercover footage, court testimony and several years of interviews, Bleed Out dives deep into the flawed healthcare system.

Are any of these questions familiar?

Healthcare Advocacy Can Help Answer These Questions

What can I do if I don’t understand my diagnosis

or the treatment options available?

Who can help me translate what my doctor is proposing?

How can I understand my options, risks and benefits of a particular form of therapy?

Am I doing all that I can to live longer and stronger life, which will help me avoid health crises?

How do know if I’m receiving the best treatment

available for my disease?

If I have an increased risk of a genetic (heredity) disease, how can I reduce my risk of it developing in either myself or my children?

How do I qualify for a clinical trial and who

ends up paying for it?

What options are available to support my parents’ healthcare needs as they grow older?

What should I do if my insurance company denies a

claim and how can I reduce the risk of this happening

in the future?

How should I prepare for unexpected health problems when traveling outside the United States?

Physician-Guided Patient Advocacy

The Scott Health Advisory provides a unique boutique service for individuals and their families with a strong focus on client privacy and discretion. Dr. Carol strives to maximize wellness and minimize chronic and acute disease for client families. She guides families through a targeted strategy to detect and prevent chronic disease in its early stages, reducing the risk of health crises such as heart attack, cerebrovascular disease, and more.

When health crises do occur, Dr. Carol is there for your family. The Scott Health Advisory’s personalized advocacy services accelerate the velocity of understanding and responding to a medical crisis. With just-in-time (JIT) advocacy services, patients have real-time support in the event of a medical emergency, day or night. Within 24 hours of receiving a report of a diagnosis, The Scott Health Advisory begins an exhaustive review of the best healthcare providers for patients, giving rapid access to second opinions from world-class providers.

On confirmation of a diagnosis, Dr. Carol’s team reviews the latest peer-reviewed medical research and clinical trials, finding the best innovative treatment technologies and medical therapies, all based on proven science. At its core, the Scott Health Advisory reduces the ambiguity and uncertainty that come with a challenging diagnosis.

Dr. Carol’s group reduces stress and anxiety for both patients and their families by providing clear explanations of test results and imaging studies, translating medical jargon into clear, understandable choices. Her group improves diagnostic and treatment response times, minimizes health system vulnerabilities, and increases the likelihood of rapid recovery to good health.

Dr. Carol and her dedicated team work to reduce the complexities of healthcare decisions for times when they are needed most. Advocacy minimizes healthcare costs by establishing streamlined procedures for provisioning and financing healthcare services, helping ensure efficient use of resources. By reducing unnecessary care duplication, Dr. Carol’s group ensures that families can maximize usage of their insurance policies while still receiving world-class care. If out-of-network providers are needed, he Scott Health Advisory utilizes cost-control procedures to ensure efficient usage of diagnostics and therapy.

Her service complements and expands on existing medical care, providing perspective, clinical guidance and facilitated access to leading healthcare resources. Whether you need help managing a complex medical issue, locating a provider, finding the newest treatment innovations, or managing the needs of aging loved ones, Dr. Carol’s group guides your family toward a solution.

For clients with longer-term needs, Dr. Carol provides patients and their families the stability, security and peace of mind that come with a clear understanding of a forward path. She works with families to assess chronic health issues on a fundamental level, encompassing a patient’s physical, spiritual and emotional needs. When patients need access to a wider spectrum of healthcare services, Dr. Carol provides facilitated referrals and vetted reviews, ensuring that patients receive the best services available.

About Us

The Scott Health Advisory provides retainer-based services for select individuals and their families.

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